Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Down Low
I posted an Ann Arbor News story on the big mixed-use development at Lower Town over at Arbor Update. Just the other day I read the initial staff report on the proposal from a few years back, which I was pretty excited about. Things have changed a bit in the intervening time, however.
I know it is good brownfield redevelopment, mixed-use, blah blah blah most everything else I always whine for in new projects, but I am left with a bit of a dis-ease at the same time. Among the incoming tenants are an "upscale health and exercise facility," a 96-suite chain hotel, and a "steak and seafood restaurant." I used to live in that neighborhood, and thus far they've yet to recruit anything there is a real need for. Where's the grocery, pharmacy, coffeehouse or bar? This is sounding more and more like an upscale destination island in the midst of a relatively downscale neighborhood. But maybe that was actually the point all along. Granted, they haven't leased all the space yet, so I'm still crossing my fingers. I know there wasn't a hotel in the initial plan, either... that seems like a disappointing use of space. The artist's rendering in the paper doesn't really resemble the architecture which was supposed to reflect that of historic Ann Arbor, either, as best I can tell. I'm hoping this project really does become the center of a revitalized, lively Lower Town neighborhood that is full of the amenities neighborhood residents (including those who move into the development) now need to traipse across the bridge and beyond for, but at the moment I'm skeptical.
I know it is good brownfield redevelopment, mixed-use, blah blah blah most everything else I always whine for in new projects, but I am left with a bit of a dis-ease at the same time. Among the incoming tenants are an "upscale health and exercise facility," a 96-suite chain hotel, and a "steak and seafood restaurant." I used to live in that neighborhood, and thus far they've yet to recruit anything there is a real need for. Where's the grocery, pharmacy, coffeehouse or bar? This is sounding more and more like an upscale destination island in the midst of a relatively downscale neighborhood. But maybe that was actually the point all along. Granted, they haven't leased all the space yet, so I'm still crossing my fingers. I know there wasn't a hotel in the initial plan, either... that seems like a disappointing use of space. The artist's rendering in the paper doesn't really resemble the architecture which was supposed to reflect that of historic Ann Arbor, either, as best I can tell. I'm hoping this project really does become the center of a revitalized, lively Lower Town neighborhood that is full of the amenities neighborhood residents (including those who move into the development) now need to traipse across the bridge and beyond for, but at the moment I'm skeptical.
